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If you\u2019re concerned about your summertime air conditioning bills, the solution might not lie in turning the thermostat up. Instead, take a walk through your home to see how many air leaks there are.<\/p>\n
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 25 percent of the cost of heating and cooling a home is associated with the leaks found in the walls, floors, windows and doors. Fortunately, the leakage is easy to detect and seal using inexpensive and durable products.\u00a0 The fastest and most accurate way to check for air leaks is by having an energy audit performed by an HVAC contractor or a licensed energy auditor. These professionals use sophisticated equipment to measure and pinpoint the air losses in your home.<\/p>\n The blower door is the centerpiece of the audit. It consists of a large fan mounted in a metal frame that sits tightly inside an exterior door frame. The door has air pressure gauges on it that tell the auditors how fast and far the pressure falls when the fan is running.<\/p>\n The auditors close all the windows and open all the interior doors. As the fan runs, it exhausts the air from your home. A home that has few air leaks will lose pressure quickly. One with a lot of cracks loses pressure slowly because the fan pulls air inside to compensate for the outgoing air.<\/p>\n As the blower door runs, the auditing team scans your home with an infrared camera to detect temperature differences. This scan reveals where and how large the air leaks are.<\/p>\n Finding the Leaks by Doing It Yourself<\/strong><\/p>\n Although it\u2019s not quite as accurate, you can conduct an energy audit by closing all the windows and exterior doors and turning on the kitchen and bathroom fans. This creates negative pressure inside your home, and just like the blower door, air will enter through any cracks in the building\u2019s envelope.<\/p>\n As the fans run, walk around the perimeter walls with a lighted candle or a burning stick of incense. Wavering smoke or a flickering flame indicates an air leak. Note their locations on a sheet of paper.<\/p>\n Sealing the Leaks<\/strong><\/p>\n Home centers stock a wide variety of products designed specifically for sealing air leaks.<\/p>\n \u2022 Caulk is used to seal smaller cracks and crevices around window frames and joints between floors and walls. Latex or acrylic caulks dry quickly and are easy to apply. Avoid pure silicone caulk unless you\u2019re using it around a chimney or vent. Silicone caulk remains flexible after it cures, but it\u2019s nearly impossible to remove once it\u2019s set.
\nFinding the Leaks with an Energy Audit<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Expanding foam works well for larger cracks and around wires, pipes and cable that enter your home.
\n\u2022 Weatherstripping goes around exterior door frames. Choose a product that\u2019s similar to the original material. After removing the old, apply the new product following the manufacturer\u2019s instructions.
\n\u2022 Metal flashing goes between chimneys and flues. It creates a fire-resistant barrier between the attic\u2019s surface and the chimney.<\/p>\n